At a Glance
Median Income
$48,438
$26,951 per capita
Home Value
$89,300
Zillow: $209,925
Median Rent
$594/mo
30.6% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
14.9%
95.7% high school+
Unemployment
4.2%
8.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.8%
18.5% smoking rate
How Wadena Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Wadena's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Wadena a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.6 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Wadena residents earn a median household income of $48,438 , which is 36% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $26,951. The unemployment rate stands at 4.2% (17% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 680 business establishments, including 41 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Wadena is $89,300 , 68% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $209,925. Median rent is $594/month, with 30.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.
Education
14.9% of adults in Wadena hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(56% below the national average).
95.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Wadena has an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C).
Winters average 15°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 39.5 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population206
Median Age48.9 yrs
Density275/mi²
Male / Female52% / 48%
Foreign Born1.5%
Veterans11.6%
Economy
B+
Median Income$48,438
Per Capita$26,951
Unemployment4.2%
Poverty8.2%
County GDP$1,075M
Avg Weekly Wage$939
Housing
A+
Home Value$89,300
Rent$594
Ownership84.2%
Zillow$209,925
Housing Units118
Rent Burden30.6%
Health
Obesity39.8%
Diabetes10.5%
Smoking18.5%
Heart Disease6.3%
Premature Death8,298/100K
Climate
Avg Temp45°F
Rain39.5 in/yr
Elevation860 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+14.9%
High School+95.7%
Graduate+1.8%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 64% / D 34%
Commute34 min
Broadband89.5%
Internet Speed90 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries11
Did You Know?
The median home in Wadena was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Waterloo Regional (42 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.448 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
10.7% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.